Aldon Smith, 49ers Restructure Contract: Latest Details, Comments and Reaction

The San Francisco 49ers and linebacker Aldon Smith agreed to a restructured contract Thursday that will allow Smith to be paid his regular salary but protect the team against any future off-field problems.

Continue for updates. 

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Smith Would Have Been Released Without Restructured Contract

Saturday, March 7

Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reported the 49ers would have cut Smith if not for the revised contract:

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Per a league source, the 49ers would have released Smith in lieu of allowing his fifth-year base salary to become fully guaranteed.  According to the source, Smith wasn’t going to get on the open market a contract similar to the revised deal he signed.

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Smith Agrees to Restructured Deal with 49ers

Thursday, March 5

Matt Barrows of The Sacramento Bee reported the news:

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New salary will be based on monthly and weekly roster bonuses. Allows team to part ways if there are any off-field issues.

— Matt Barrows (@mattbarrows) March 6, 2015"

Matt Maiocco of CSN Bay Area also had Smith's agent Doug Hendrickson's thoughts on his client's new deal:

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“It wasn’t like they said, ‘If you don’t do this, you’re cut,’” said Doug Hendrickson, who represents Smith.

“The thought behind it is that Aldon realizes he’s been his own worst enemy. He has come a long way since he was suspended. Ultimately his goal, my goal, and the team’s goal is for him to sign a long-term contract with the Niners.”

“Ultimately, he’s loyal and he appreciates all the 49ers have done for him,” Hendrickson said. “They have supported him. He recognizes that, and he doesn’t want to go anywhere. He wants to continue to build trust and show them who he is.

“He’s basically saying, ‘I’m willing to bet on myself that I will not do anything stupid."

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Smith, 25, was limited to seven games last season after serving a nine-week suspension for violations of the league's substance abuse and personal conduct policies. He finished the year with career lows across the board, making 15 tackles and two sacks.

The 49ers are paying Smith $9.75 million next season under terms of the option year of his rookie contract. In most cases, the option is guaranteed for injuries only, becoming fully guaranteed on the first day of that particular league year.

The team and Smith working out a restructuring allows both sides to enter a best-of-both-worlds scenario. It's possible the 49ers would have decided to move on altogether without these concessions from Smith. It's unlikely any other team, despite his prodigious talent, would be willing to fork over nearly $10 million for a player who has consistently found off-field strife.

Tony Avelar/Associated Press

49ers general manager Trent Baalke told reporters at the scouting combine he believes Smith can keep himself out of trouble going forward.

“Well, we sure hope so," Baalke said. "A lot of people haven’t had the pleasure of meeting Aldon. A great young man. He’s had some off-the-field adversity, some personal adversity that he’s trying to deal with and is dealing with. But, if you’ve ever had an opportunity to meet him, I think you’d feel how most of us feel, a tremendous young man.”

With his personal problems ostensibly in the past, the team will also hope his on-field performance gets back on track. Smith has produced only 10.5 sacks the last two seasons after putting up 33.5 alone during his first two campaigns. When he's motivated, Smith is among the best, if not the best pure pass-rusher in football.

Giving him big-time financial motivation to keep himself clean off the field should be a huge step to allowing Smith to reclaim that status.

 

Follow Tyler Conway (@tylerconway22) on Twitter.